Paul--
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger!
All 8 of my Baby pots show no signs of buds either...
It may be the location...location....NOT so bright and a bit warm.
They all sit on a rack by my unused kitchen door--East exposure.
I DO hope that they will bloom once I get them outside...
G.
HOLIDAY CACTUS GENERAL DISCUSSION - PART #6
That Easter Cactus is beautiful. Yesterday I got my surprise from my friend in Georgia who works at the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta. I will share what they are as soon as I get them taken care of and marked.
It is so exciting when you get something new and unusual. Have a good day my friends. JB
Gita- of course not! Itll happen when it happens.
JB- sounds exciting!! We can't wait.
My 'Gita-baby' was given to me spring of 2011 so she's a year older than Paul's
Just got my plants shipped to TX, CA and WV this morning before the snow starts. I stopped at the Farmers Market to see what they had since they opened Friday and mostly it is pansies and violas. It was fun at least looking at the lovely sweet smelling flowers. Of course, they are upset since the weather is going to be so miserable in a few hours.
I opened my envelope of cuttings from my friend in GA and they looked really sad and cold. I unpacked them and layed them out to adjust to the house temperature before doing anything with them. After about 12 hours or more I put them in individual containers with warm peroxide water and left them sit in the window and suck up some light. This morning I looked at them and it is like a miracle, they are hydrating beautifully and look really good compared to how they looked when they arrived. I will no doubt plant them tomorrow and put them in the GH to see how they do. I got two S. Buckleyi...one called "Le Vesuv" the other just called Dark Red, a couple of Campinas Brazil and Sambra Brazil and then there was a pack of about 15 cuttings with no ID at all. What fun that will be to wait and see what I actually have. Gita, you and my friend keep me busy with these little unknown babies. LOL But, I love them.
I had a nice surprise this morning. My red Easter Cactus has buds so I brought it in the house and if it is blooming by Easter it will be the center piece on the table. I bought my daughter a Silvius but it has no buds yet. I bought it for her from Logees a few years ago and it is a beautiful plant and big, but no buds. Not sure why it is not pushing buds. Maybe it needs some feed. ????
JB--
Do Easter cactus also need the short, cool nights to set bloom buds?
My little pots are all sitting by my kitchen door on a shelf. They are, probably,
too young to bloom yet....Growing Ok, though.
My bigger potted EC's are looking a bit sad--seems they always do--and then I put them outside
and the get a lot better and bloom.
They look so sad and dry sometimes--and then I water them lightly, but i also know they
do not like to be watered a whole lot. Wish i would get used to watering things from the bottom....
I am waiting for the spent flower on that pink CC I have been taking pictures of to drop off.
Then I will send you a couple cuttings of it.
How are your AV leaves doing? Have any more of them died off for you?
That's all for now...Gotta go downstairs and finish painting flowers on my HD apron
so i can wear it when i am in Garden. You should see some of the artwork people have on their aprons!!!
Mind boggling--everyone wants to assert themselves as to what they like.
Even the store Manager has colorful aprons...
Stay warm! Gita
Here is an article that may help you with your Easter Cacti:
Rhipsalidopsis
Easter Cacti or Spring Cacti
by Renee O'Connell
Originally published in Garden Compass magazine
Used with permission.
Rhipsalidopsis are commonly known as Easter Cacti or Spring Cacti as they typically flower during April and May. Often confused with Christmas Cacti or Schlumbergera, they are, in fact, similar in appearance but have very different flowers. The flowers of the Rhipsalidopsis are star-shaped, open very flat, and occur in very saturated colors. Rhipsalidopsis are epiphytic cacti, and are considered to be in the same Tribe of cacti that includes Epiphyllums, Rhipsalis, Schlumbergera (Christmas Cacti) and many other epiphytic cacti. In general, most Rhipsalidopsis on today's market are hybrids between two species; Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (reddish-orange flowers)and Rhipsalidopsis rosea (profuse orchid-colored flowers).
These plants are easily grown, even as houseplants, but to grow Rhipsalidopsis well, it is essential to understand the original habitat. These epiphytic cacti are native to rainforests on the coast of Brazil. In this humid jungle area, these plants hang from tall trees or cliffs. The climate is refreshing, and inhabitants never experience extreme heat nor do they experience frosts. The light is filtered, dappling through the canopy of the trees. As epiphytes, these plants receive perfect drainage, and even though the wet season may bring daily rains, the water runs off rapidly and the plants are never waterlogged.
To emulate these conditions in our situation, the soil should be very porous, lightweight and slightly acidic. Slightly acidity can be provided by addition of peat moss or leaf mold. Plants must have good air circulation. Water thoroughly when soil becomes dry to the touch, but make sure water drains away rapidly. Soils that do not drain well and remain sodden for days or weeks will smother the root systems and encourage certain root diseases. Rhipsalidopsis thrive in temperatures between 70 and 80°F. Plants are happiest when night temperatures are between 55 and 65°F. Excellent as a hanging basket indoors in bright, airy spot or on a sheltered patio in temperate areas. Makes a great Easter centerpiece
There are quite a few good articles about the different cacti on a link called CactusCollection.
I have some beautiful Sunrise Cactus and I am waiting patiently for them to bloom. I raised them from cuttings from a friend in SC.
My AV's are slowing dying. I moved them to a warmer place and hopefully they will survive. If not, I am not going to worry about it. I know I can not raise the darn things and I am not going to sweat over it. Too old for that. JB
Here is a link for your article JB.
http://www.cactuscollection.com/articles/rhipsalidopsis.html
Hey Gita and Sally and Ruby, any reports on my Easter Cactus babies? Sure haven't seen any Easter Cactus in stores, but Easter is 'early ' this year.
That is a good one coleup. Thanks for adding that. Jb
Judy--
Mine is still all green--but, otherwise, doing OK. hmmm--Just went to look at it--it was bone dry!
Shame on me! Watered it with a drop of Bio feed liquid seaweed in a glass of water.
Need to pay more attention--it looked a bit dessicated...
It is sitting with all my other Easter cactus babies by my E. facing kitchen door.
JB--Thanks for that article! I will copy it out--along with the one Judy posted.
Here's a picture of them all......Judy--yours is the taller one on the left.
My "Thanksgiving" CC is now in full of buds & blooms for Easter. It always blooms 2X year - even when the plant was in PA & then MD.
Morning, I found this beauty looking at me yesterday morning. Twilight Tangerine....one of the most beautiful hybrids I have. It is a Schlumbergera Truncata of course.
Gita, I put a picture of your Easter Cactus up on Facebook yesterday just in case anyone says they saw it. I said it was from my friend Gita.
Time to get to work. Jb
The Polka Dancer is blooming again. That thing never stops.
If I'm remembering the German and Polish weddings, polka dancers never stop either! Great name for a great flower.
coleup.....I think you are correct. ☺ Would it be o.k. if I invited a friend of mine to join the group here since she lives in Montana. She could use the kind of conversation we have on these threads on the Mid Atlantic Forum. I did not want to ask her until I ask someone if the mid atlantic forum was limited to just those of us from the area. I did not think it was possible to restrict thread participation
but I wanted to ask first.
JB: Of course not!! Come one come all. The more the merrier, more people means more knowledge and experience to share.
I thought so, but I just wanted to make sure how everyone felt. I am relatively a newbie to the Mid Atlantic Forums but I find the people here are so different and kind and considerate than on some of the other forums on DG. I been a member for a long time and I have seen some really nasty stuff occur on some threads. I just pray these threads remain above all that. Thanks so much. I know you will love her.
I think we MidAtlantic folks try to stay positive.
We live that way here. If you don't you will not survive all the stess that comes over the hill. JB
JB, I am looking forward to hearing from your Montana friend. Montana is one of the places that I always thought I'd like to live if things in life were different, although I've never been there. Just conjurs up images of natural beauty and the road less traveled.
My 21-year old is living on a ranch there, and I can vouch for the extraordinary natural beauty.
I will invite her tonight. Thanks.
Well, JB---
1--Here is an earlier shot of the Easter cactus. It WAS bigger and lusher at one time....
This is from 2006. So--it is older than that...20 yrs. maybe?
Can you believe how long I have had this one?
Same for most of my plants?
My Angel Wing begonia , my big pot of Amaryllis, my Swedish ivy HB.,
my fuchsia CC., etc...ALL are from 2005 or earlier, especially the AW Begonia.
Geez! It must be about 25 years old or more....
Endless propagating is the "secret"....
SO--Let me take you down MY "Memory lane" with some plants.
One group of plants i DO know , exactly, how old they are. All my Epis.
2--Got 3 leaf-cuttings of them all in August 24,2005 from "Kachinagirl" in CA.
3--Purple datura--not so purple back in Aug. 2005 , It has evolves much more purple.
4--Dr, Seusds--Aug. 2005--obviously NOT new that year! Ioo big already. Possibly from 2003.
5--Pregnant onion---2005-9-4. Also--already very well on the way...Add a couple years again.
"Memory Lane--continues----with apologies to JB--whose Thread I am digressing on.
1--My "Bob Hope" Camellia--pic, taken May-2006. I think I got it in about 2001.
2--My first and ONLY bloom I have ever had on mt Ric Rac cactus. 2006-June. None since!
3--First year for baby "Maya". Bought her in a 4" pot earlier that year. 2006 June
4--Brazilian Plume flower--2006--August
5--Fuchsia and White CC--Dec, 2005
OK! Not going into 2007. Enough reminiscing....
Wanted you all to know, that have any of these plants, how truly long they have
already lived with me in my home ,my garden and my heart.
Love grows....Gita
Gita,
You should see how big my brazilian plume flower is that you gave me at last years spring swap. I can't wait to bring it back outside for the summer and see it bloom. The two brug cuttings from fall get together at Sally's are doing great too.
Teri--Just don't forget it likes part shade/shade outside!
I did not know that either until last year. Thought anything that blooms so pretty must,
surely, like sun.
Mine is pretty huge too. I am not taking any cuttings this year--I want to see how big it will grow.
Went to take a picture--in the guest bedroom-hence the yellow lighting. It had a small table lamp on.
It sits on the end of a twin bed in my guest room by a semi-bright window- (not NOW--it is 8PM).
It is in a 12" pot and from soil to the tip is 2' tall.
Lots of tiny buds on white Easter Cactus from coleup
Here is the old fuchsia blooming her old heart out again. Just love her.
Sally--
Booo-Hooo--I don't see anything on my white CC's yet!
I am sure that is because of the "too much light daily" issue.
Even though an under-the-cabinets type of a task light fairly low wattage-
it is a light--and I also have a lot of AV babies under there.
The CC would, probably, like a cooled spot and a shorter light period.
Where is yours, sally?
Will keep looking....G.
Cool Sally, maybe your Easter Cactus will actually bloom for Easter! I liked the blooms on that one a lot. You will have to tell us all your secret!
Hey Ruby, how's the momma plant doing any blooms ?
I am holding hope for your Rhipsalidopsis easter cactus to bloom. These buds are very tiny.
When frost threatened i moved them to laundry room window shelf. East window and south door adjacent with window. Temp between 50 to 70 i guess. Heat vent is closed but it never gets close to frosty
I find this year (since Nov. 2012) one of the most interesting since I have been growing Schlumbergera and it is also the most rewarding. Almost every one of the stock plants I have are still blooming. Maybe only one or two, but now the old ones are blooming as well. The large Salmon is just full of blooms and buds again. I can not explain why other than the fact the temperature in the house has not gone higher than 70 degrees most of that time, and the humidity remains about 30 or 40. Whatever it is, they are so happy. This morning I noticed White Christmas has opened a beauty. I only wish I could take pictures that would do them justice. My shots suck. But, you get at least get the idea. Here she is:
The red Easter Cactus I found in the GH and brought in the house is now showing her stuff. I do hope she blooms for Easter. The White Silvius is not even showing buds but she is at my daughters and does not get as much light as mine does. Mine gets an hour of morning sun each day. Same temperature but less humidity also. All these things do make a difference.
Your Easter cactus is a good week or two ahead of mine- looks like at least some will be open in a week.
I thought that too Sally. I will keep you all updated. I would love to use it as a centerpiece on Easter Sunday. (I would clean it up and put a cover on the pot. lol)
JB--
"White Christmas" is one of the CC's you sent me. Can't wait to see her bloom!
The only ones having a bloom or two on them, at this time, are my bigger pot of the fuchsia/white
and one of the "juvenile". salmon CC's. "Juvenile is a 2-year-old cutting. Not a "baby" any more....:o)
JB--Now--just for you and Sally---
Here are my little Gnomes (3"tall), made from pom-poms and felt--boots and "leather" belt and all--hovering
under the watchful eye of their cousin, Hagar, who is fearless and will strike anyone dead with his sword.
Hagar's helmet is made from a silver-sprayed acorn cap...horns from baked Fimo clay.
Sword from a sliver of an aluminum pie pan.
See! All you need is imagination. Work backwards....Know what you want to make-and them think what,
in nature, will look the most like it. Like--in the case of the acorn caps=nice warrior helmets.
The Angel is made from an upside down , white rose. My favorite of all craft's pieces!!.
Hair is a silky yarn--wings are from real feathers. The arms are fluffy pipe-cleaners.
Head is a pearly "grape" found on Christmas picks. My "Rose Angel" is also a tree ornament.
At a craft show I went to last year--I sold each of these for $5 a piece. Inexpensive--I think.
There are many other "little things: I make....Another time....
Gita
The Gmones are X-mas tree ornaments. The Viking is a magnet for your fridge.
ALL the driftwood pieces and pine cones were gathered among the beaches of Latvia--from my trip there
in 2008. I have lots of these.
My plan then WAS to make a nice wall-hanging/mobile from them all, with little pieces of amber
dripping down from all the wood pieces. Like tears....for things lost.
I may still do it--one of these days....seem to never make the time.....so years pass...
Gita, your gnomes are so cute and so personally appropriate to you.
OOOOOOOOH I have some of yours...You sent them to me and I adore them. My daughter took my angel because she collects angels and she went wild when she saw your little one. They are just adorable and underpriced for sure.
Well, JB---How much would you charge, or buy them for????
i KNOW I always underestimate my work--as I am NOT a business person.
Also--the TIME it takes for me to make something is never figured into the price....
I only look at the finished product and think how much I would pay for it if I bought it.
G.
Gita -- You are amazingly productive!